When Do You Need Reading Glasses?

It’s easy to get frustrated when you just can’t see like you used to. This happens to many people over the age of forty, and reading glasses are often needed to correct the problem. Reading glasses provide extra assistance to focus on small objects at close distance, like words on a page or needlework. Reading glasses are not to be confused for regular eyeglasses that are needed in order to drive, watch television, and perform other everyday tasks.

Struggling to read without needed glasses can cause the eyes to become strained and vision to deteriorate. Wearing reading glasses can minimize potential issues.

How do you know when you need reading glasses? If you can answer YES to more than one or two of the following questions, you may want to make an appointment with your eye doctor to have your eyes checked out.

Do you get headaches or sore eyes while reading for more than a few minutes?

Could you thread a needle if you had to?

Do you squint when trying to read a magazine or book?

Do you hold books at arms length to read?

Do you squint at the words on the television set?

Do you find yourself having to (or wanting to) push your computer monitor back in order to see it better?

Have you reached your fortieth birthday?

These are just a few of the questions that your doctor may ask you if you express an interest in reading glasses. Not everyone over the age of 40 needs reading glasses, but those who do are most often diagnosed with Presbyopia.

Presbyopia is not a disease, but a natural condition that results from the natural aging process of the body, including the eyes. It is not painful and happens gradually, over a long period of time. Once Presbyopia has set in, the lens of the eye begins to lose its elasticity and the eyes begin to lose the natural ability to focus on small objects, causing them to appear blurred up close. If large enough, print may remain in focus when moved further from the eye.

If you think that you may be in need of reading glasses, make an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. It is important to be sure that there is no other vision problem, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. If the doctor determines that none of these conditions exist, it may be much more affordable to pick up a pair of basic reading glasses from your local drugstore than to pay for an expensive pair of prescription reading glasses when each is likely to provide the same benefit. If you already wear corrective lenses, the doctor may advise bifocals, trifocals or progressive lenses. Computer distance glasses are also an option for people who work in an office setting.

The truth about reading glasses is that most people end up needing them eventually. See an eye doctor and invest in a good pair of reading glasses if necessary. You may just be able to enjoy reading and writing again.